Smoking is not really a healthy habit. It’s not a healthy habit at all, actually, it can cause cancer, heart diseases, stroke and a lot more. However, people still do it. Why is this so? Well, being an ex-smoker myself, I found that smoking helps with destressing. Although, now that I’ve quit, I found out that there is no evidence of nicotine being tied to destressing or decreasing anxiety. Honestly, I’ve felt better after stopping. It was a mere addiction. An addiction to nicotine that a large percentage of the world are stuck in. This is because when you’re addicted to something, it will pull you in, deeper and deeper the longer you give in to it.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a way to stop this addiction. Quitting cold turkey, which is to quit abruptly, is not the way. Usually, people who quit cold turkey relapse after experiencing withdrawals. Withdrawals can be hard on a lot of people, especially those who are addicted to certain drugs. The temptation to relapse is going to be there. To avoid that, take the steps to transition from smoking to a healthier alternative. One of the alternatives includes switching to e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes or any kind of vape kit can allow a smoother transition to the road of a smoke-free life. Plus, you can decide how much of a nicotine kick you need with your device.
One of the reasons why it’s smarter to switch to e-cigarettes or vape is because nowadays, a lot of public spaces ban smoking but don’t ban vaping and e-cigarettes. This is due to the fact that e-cigarettes and vapes are far safer than cigarettes, for yourself and for the people around you. Smoking cigarettes cause illnesses for yourself and have a high possibility of causing secondhand smoke for the people around you, be it your friends or strangers that happen to be around. Thus, switching to e-cigarettes or vape can be very helpful for you to get healthier and for you to get your nicotine kick in public without being a bother to the people around you. Although, just to help you out, here are some of the smoking bans across different countries:
Ireland
In the beautiful country of Ireland where there are green fields and beautiful sceneries, it is also one of the first countries to introduce a smoking ban onto the public in the year 2004. With Scotland following their lead, they implemented a ban whereas you are not allowed to smoking in enclosed public spaces, especially workplaces. Ireland was actually the country that caused other countries to follow suit. This is a good thing because smoking in public spaces poses a disturbance for a lot of people who happen to be near you.
USA
Like most countries, smoking bans in the US differs depending on each state. Oftentimes they differ depending on each city in those states too. For instance, cities like California and New York have tighter laws on smoking compared to cities in Texas. Some cities ban smoking in eateries and the rest allow it in places like bars or pubs. That’s because people usually go to bars or pubs to drink, right? And what accompanies drinking is either smoking or vaping. That is why it is still allowed in most bars. Nonetheless, as mentioned, a lot of places still allow vaping and the use of e-cigarettes. So, if you’re in need of a nicotine kick wherever you go, it’d be easier to get those devices.
Austria
Known for their architectural beauties, laws on smoking in Austria is almost the same as in other countries. The usual no smoking in eateries, workplaces and healthcare facilities. However, in this country, it is allowed to have smoking rooms or designated smoking areas as long as it doesn’t bother the non-smoking areas. These laws may not be as strict as the cannabis laws around the world though. Although cannabis rarely poses any threat to people’s lives, it’s still counted as drug addiction.
Malaysia
Before this, Malaysians were allowed to smoke almost anywhere, except for enclosed spaces and healthcare facilities of course. However, every restaurant had its designated smoking areas where people could sit, be served as well as smoke. But since 2019, a ban on smoking in eateries has been implemented and people are no longer allowed to smoke, even in the open parts of a restaurant. The rule is that you’d have to stand 3 meters away from the eatery or else be fined up to RM 3 000. That’s a lot of money for most of the people in Malaysia. Nonetheless, there are still a few smaller establishments that still allow smoking in designated areas. Just be careful of police patrols, of course. Because no matter what the restaurant owners allow, the police still stick with the law.
If you enjoyed reading this article on smoking bans and tobacco control, you might wanna read up on laws on cannabis as well just so you know where and when to be careful. Stay safe and be responsible!
